The title for this blog originated with use of the term “practical idealist”
in this 1996 opinion piece, which asked: “To what kind of work should a practical idealist aspire?” A century and a half earlier, Emerson,
in his 1841 essay Circles, wrote: “There are degrees in idealism. We learn first to play with it academically.
. . . Then we see in the heyday of youth and poetry that it may be true, that it is true in gleams and fragments.
Then, its countenance waxes stern and grand, and we see that it must be true. It now shows itself ethical and practical.” John
Dewey and Mahatma Gandhi embraced practical idealism in the 20th century, as did UN Secretary General U Thant. Al Gore
invoked it in a 1998 speech. In the context of this blog, the term is meant to convey idealism tempered but not overwhelmed
by realism: a search for the ideal on a path guided by common sense.

In donating blood yesterday at the regional Red Cross chapter house at 703 Whitney Avenue (where every Friday afternoon
there is a blood drive at which both scheduled appointments and spontaneous "walk-in" donors are welcome), I saw
the following message:

"Every two
seconds someone in America needs blood. . . . The American Red Cross is encouraging eligible
donors of all blood
types to give blood to help strengthen the community’s
blood supply. If you are unable to donate, please consider asking a friend or family member to donate in your place.

As a special thank you for donating blood, all presenting donors will have the chance to win a pair of theatre tickets. Show details: Annie
- Friday, March 5th 7:30pm at the Shubert Theatre. Tickets are courtesy of the Shubert New Haven.

Call 1-800-GIVE LIFE now to schedule your appointment to donate blood or go to givelife.org . . . . Your next local donation opportunity:

Related to the
September 24 and earlier postings below, an October 2 article by Melinda Tuhus described a regional Domestic Violence Task Force event marking the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.Survivors Chantel Corcino and Madeline Osorio spoke there, along with New Haven Police Lt. Julie Johnson – together
underscoring the scope of this crime, its horrors, and the need to prevent it through continuing community education.Tracey Parks and Sandy Koorejian of Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Havenhighlighted intimate partner abuse amid teens and young adults,
among others.

Police
Lt. Johnson: “Police officers respond to more calls for domestic violence in the span of their career than any other
type of call. This year, domestic violence accounted for one murder in New Haven.” According to Melinda Tuhus, Lt. Johnson
noted that children are often both victims and witnesses and said, “More officers, by far, are assaulted or injured
during domestic disturbance calls than in any other circumstances.”

New Haven’s Mayor DeStefano and the City made the October 1 event a priority by listing
it atop the City’s website this week.The mayor made remarks on the occasion, held at City Hall.
Also participating was artist/educator Ras Mo Moses, who with the mayor was among the presenters at a local Men Against Domestic
Violence effort in 2005, among other such past events.

The Courant ran a September 26 editorial, "Women Helped by 1994 Domestic Abuse Law," recognizing the 15th anniversary of the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).According
to the editorial, “Violence directed at women is about power and control by men demanding subservience. It will take
educators, ministers, neighborhood leaders, coaches and others to send the message to boys and young men.”

Then U.S. Senator, Joseph Biden authored that legislation.

Another man in the cause against domestic violence,
Ronald Herron of Southern Connecticut State University, was mentioned in the September 24 post below and in this October 2 New Haven Register article about a new federally funded program to help colleges in Connecticut counter violence against women.